Improvement in picture-medals, buttons



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UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIcE.

HENRY C. GRIGGS, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

iMPRovEMENT 1N PICTURE-MEDALS, BUTTONS, ae.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,7 l0, dated January 3, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. Gardes, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new'and u-eful Improvement in Picture-Medals, Buttous, Ste.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe said invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a cross-section of a medal complete. Fig. 2 is a section.representing the two half-shells. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of said shells. Fig. 4 is a section, and Fig. 5 is a side view ofthe interior ring or tilling ot the medal.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts, and the figures in the drawings are about twice the dimensions of an ordinarysized medal.

Medals have heretofore been constructed out of one piece of material countersunk on opposite sides to receive pictures, secured by turning over or swaging up the metal around the edges of the counter-sinks. Buttons have also been made with a sheet-metal rim securing the picture, which picture is the size of tne interior of the button. The mI dals conv structed as aforesaid have been perforated near the edge for receiving a string or ribbon, whereby they can be suspended, and medals of other descriptions have had a shank and ring similar to a watch.

The nature of my said invention consists in a ring or countersunk illingpiece receiving the picture or pictures, in combination with a ring-shaped shell surrounding the said llin g-piece, and at its interior edge holding the picture in its place within said ring or fillingpiece, therebyy the picture is retained in a position deeper down from the surface of the medal or other article, and is less liable to injury than when contined in a recess near the surface of the medal, besides which the picture is not sprung or warped by pressure on its edges. I also provide a loop or attaching device at the edge of the medal, thereby a perforation in said medal is rendered unnecessary.

In the drawings, a a are shells, formed with aages 1 1, the diameter of one shell being slightly smaller than the other, to allow of its introduction within' the flange of the other shell. b is a ring or filling-piece, which may be of pasteboard or any other suitable Inaterial, and is either perforated with an opening of a size to receive the picture or pictures, or is countersunk with a recess sufficiently large and deep for the same purpose. This filling-piece corresponds in size with the interior of the shells, and is to be introduced within such shells after receiving the picture or pictures introduced into the cavity or perforation. After the shells containing the said lling-piece and picture are put together the edge of the outer flange is turned over slightly, so as to hold the shells together. This may be done by a die or by burnishing.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the picture or pictures c are sufficiently below the surface of the medal or button to be protected from injury, and at the same time the appearance of such picture is much better than it would be if nearly on the same level as the surface of the medal, as has heretofore been usual.

In place of the hole which has heretofore been used from which to suspend the medal, I make use of a loop, d, or attaching device from the edge of the metal shell, so that the ribbon or other article used for suspending the medal does not extend over the surface of the medal itself, thereby the appearance ot' such medal is much improved. I rind that a loop pressed by a die from the flange of the outer shell in the shape represented in Fig. most convenient and cheap; but such loop might be pressed up or formed in any other shape.

lt will be evident that in the manufacture of buttons and similar articles a shell or disk with the shank or other attaching device takes the place of one of the shells herein represented, and that one picture only is used in stead of two.

XVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rlhe countersunk or perforated ring b, in combination with the shell a, for securing the picture in the manner specified.

2. A loop upon the edge of the shell, formed substantially as specified.

Dated this 28th day of July, A. D. 186i.

HENRY C. GRIGGS.

Vtitnesses:

Tratos. GEO. HAROLD, Guns. H. SMITH. 

